Web 2.0, New Tools, New Schools -- Chapter 7 (online safety and security)

Educators know the great responsibility we have to keep students safe -- there is lock down, fire drills, earthquake drills, how to handle fights between students, etc. -- but we also must be responsible for the safety of students when they go online! MySpace and Facebook are filters in our district for this very reason --they are networks for predators to use to identify possible victims. I do believe that most young adults are more savvy than they use to be when chats and social networks first appeared on a large scale, but still if we do not inform them of the possible dangers we will be remiss in our duties. We cannot assume that someone else has taught online safety -- we must engage students in it ourselves and reteach and refresh them of the knowledge frequently. A simple "Cyber Awareness Survey" (p. 141, Web 2.0, Solomon, Schrum) like the one in our text would open discussion for thought and serve as a reminder for students to be aware and be careful while going online.

Educators must also be aware of the responsibility to teach our youth about copyright and providing the information about the creator of original works when using them in presentations or written papers. Students who grow up documenting will always document. It is necessary to let them know there is a legal responsibility to follow the MLA or APA citation rules -- that credit is due to those who have created the work or information they find -- whether in a book or while surfing the net. I liked the idea of creating a Student and Teacher Information Code of Ethics that all students and teachers would following at a school site. Students need to learn about Creative Commons, about how to use web 2.0 tools responsively, and about what it means to be a true cyber citizen in today's world.

Cyberbullying needs to be eliminated, at the very least, reduced to a minimum. Through education students can learn that this is a crime with punishments given if caught. This is no different than bullying someone in the hallway or on the playground. It is no different that making inappropriate phone calls. It is harmful, hurtful, and illegal -- if we do not tell our students then they will not know that they shouldn't and think it is okay. Knowledge is power and it is our job as educators to empower our students to be safe and secure in their lives -- making sure we include the use of the Internet, online social networking, and emailing.